Skip Barber star a late addition for TJ Speed in New Zealand

Skip Barber Formula 4 Race Series racer Trevor LaTourrette has found a last minute seat with new US team TJ Speed with HMD Motorsports for the Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Trophy.

The four round New Zealand based series kicks off this coming weekend at the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and concludes with the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix in early February.

LaTourette took four consecutive podium finishes in the 2025 F4 Championship and finished fourth overall despite missing four races. The 17-year-old has experience beyond single seaters too, having raced in them prototype class in the World Racing League.

Looking forward to a quick acclimatisation and the challenging New Zealand tracks Trevor explained: “My primary goal for the 2026 CTFROT season is to continue developing as a driver and hopefully put myself in a position to fight at the front.

“This year’s grid is extremely competitive, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to compete against drivers of this calibre alongside an equally competitive team. This is a big step forward in my career I’m excited to be doing it in a high-standard environment such as CTFROT.”

Trevor’s interest in motorsport came as recently as 2021 after surviving a rare and often deadly disease he started watching F1 while recuperating in hospital. A quick step to sim racing followed and he had his first taste of the real thing in the summer of 2023 – in a Formula 4 car with the Skip Barber Racing School.

2025 saw his first partial season competing in Formula 4, as well as his first races in prototypes. Despite his relative lack of experience, he is good to go when the cars get the green light for testing on Thursday for the first time.

“My start in this sport did come later than most so I look forward to using this season as an opportunity to continue learning and improving. This season will certainly be a trial-by-fire, but I’m excited to face the challenges head on in front of a worldwide audience.”

Fans will be able to follow the championship easily. Qualifying will be livestreamed on TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand’s YouTube channel. Races will also be on that channel and on SkySport domestically in New Zealand. Races will also be streamed live on the Motorsport.TV platform.